Dragons and Emlyn update (sort of): Sunday, 28th June, 2015.

Lovely weather for an afternoon walk along the river.

Shame it is clogged up by folk who've come here to watch some dragon boat racing.

They're not local!

Meanwhile, back at HQ, some folk are still fascinated by Emlyn's naked and scarred belly.

That makes three scar-bellied folk wot lives here.

They'll be doing comparative tests next, you'll see.

Emlyn's update: Saturday, 27th June, 2015.

I've been poorly-bad for the past few weeks. 

Backwards and forwards to the cowin' vets for tests and various internal proverbials to try to find out why I've been in a lot of pain and why I've gone right off me food.

Of course, the two things are connected (I could have told them that) and it's been confirmed that I've got arthritis in my spine and then, when I went under the knife last Wednesday, they found and removed a tumour from my liver.

So here I am back home on Thursday and, to be honest, I'm still feeling dead-rough.

I just wanna be left alone really but, the trouble is, the kitchen is not the quietest place around here.

There's the dishwasher, and the washing machine, and all their general disturbance, and then, to top it all, the big fella likes to listen to his 'music' all day long.

At least I'm near my water bowl and food supply. Although I've not got much of an appetite at the mo'.

By Friday I'd had enough of the cowin' kitchen, so I gathered all my strength and made the walk down to the living room for some peace and quiet. It's much better in here. I'm much happier being left alone to be honest and just to confirm the fact I've been able to walk back up to the kitchen for my first post-op proverbial. That was a relief, I can tell you.

It's Saturday lunchtime and I'm feeling better, if only slightly.

The peace and quiet of the living room is just the job and the room service catering is absolutely first class. Mind you, it's still early days yet, so let's not get ahead of ourselves. The Vet says it will be two to three weeks before I'm anything like back to normal (whatever that is).

Finally, I thought I'd show you all my scars and shaved bits
 just to illustrate what a brave little fella I've been.
Good, eh?

Gheluvelt Park, Monday, 22nd June, 2015.

On our way back from town Vicky spotted these wild poppies growing, somewhat appropriately, by The Gheluvelt Memorial so we took this photo.

Northwick Heritage Trail, Sunday, 21st June, 2015.

We can't do our 'normal' constitutional today 'cos that Ray Smeeting-fella is using the racecourse. 

So we've walked in the other direction and then, on a whim, turned left off Northwick Road and down Old Northwick Lane, to experience a completely different environment along the river.
The last time we did this was about eight years ago (not that we are set in our ways or anything), and that was at a different time of year, so it will be interesting to see things at the height of summer.

There's been some rain lately and what with all the tree cover an' all it's a bit muddy,
so watch where yer walk Vic!

This is Nebula, a two year old deaf-as-a-post white boxer bitch, who's out with her owner on a lively constitutional.  A more friendly or sweet natured dog you couldn't wish to meet.

Some flowers and a bee. There's loads of both along here.

See? Told yer.

Welcome to The Northwick Heritage Trail.

Oooh, very meadowy.
And a bit marshy and, um, a bit reedy too, but mainly meadowy.

On the bank of The River Severn.

We're both agreed: it's a great environment for hay fever.

Fussing a dog is one thing, fussing a horse is quite another.
They've got bigger teeth!

Ah, that's better, stay over there with yer mates.

Ah yes: the legend of Sabrina.
She was the woman wot rode the Severn Bore whilst being towed by a pod of dolphins.
Well, we told you she was legendary.

We've followed the Trail for three fields but, as we've not brought any water with us and the air's full of pollen, it's time to retrace our steps.
Next time (and there will be a next time) we'll be better prepared
and we'll go the full five fields to the Weir.

Oh yes, The River Severn.
We'd almost forgotten it was there.

Back on Old Northwick Lane and this is Old Northwick Farm which doesn't look particularly old.

Finally, this is Northwick Manor House.
So, all-in-all, a really enjoyable walk and one which we will do again.
We've been out about 90 minutes and it's now time we got home and checked up on Emlyn.

The Life?, Monday, 15th June, 2015.

It's about 9:30am and Emlyn is catching some rays as he stretches out on his settee.

You'd be forgiven for thinking that he has the life but all is not what it seems.

He has been to the Vets twice in the last few days (he's off his food and something ghastly is going on in his innards) and unbeknown to him, he's about to be put in his travel box for yet another visit. He doesn't like the box and he certainly doesn't like the vets so let's not begrudge him this little bit of 'me time'.

Summer evening, Worcester, Thursday, 4th June, 2015.

Dragon boaters on The Severn.

(Vicky and Dave, on an evening constitutional, sadly just out of shot).

Blancpain Endurance Series, Silverstone, Saturday 23rd May, 2015.

We left Worcester at just gone 9:00am and arrived and parked up at the circuit at just before 10:30.

Having bought a programme and walked to Luffield Corner for a touch of Lambo watching, it's now about 10:50.

Distance walked so far: 0.5 miles.

11:10-ish: Taking the now traditional photo of Ray Smarshall and colleague hard at it as a GT of some sort thunders past.

But we can't stop for long 'cos we're gasping for a cuppa tea and we've got to get to the Paddock Cafe for breakfast before they switch to the lunchtime menu.

11:30-ish and we're in The Paddock. 

Howard's little legs are tired after the walk and so he's commandeered a cracking little Honda 50cc paddock 'bike. Just the job.

Distance walked so far: 1 mile-ish.

Memories of Australia come flooding back.

They know how to design a ute down there.

11:30-ish.

We've had some breakfast and a cuppa tea. Most welcome.

We've also had a quick shufti 'round the paddock just to get the lay of the land and are now on the bank between Copse and Maggots for the Blancpain GT practice session.

This is the BMW Sports Trophy Team Brasil (their spelling) BMW Z4. Nice colours.

12:30-ish and we've joined the queue for The Pit Lane Walk. We're just about to have a conversation with the two chaps behind us (father and son) about the joys of trying to take action shots through safety fencing on a dull day - it's a quick conversation, 'cos there are no joys.

Distance walked so far: 1.5 miles-ish.

12:35-ish and the Pit Lane Walk is open. 

Vicky goes to the right, and grabs a shot of some chaps pushing a Ferrari about, whilst David heads left.

Olde chap rests big jobbie on handy belly shelf.

1:00-ish and the Pit Lane Walk (with about 300 photos between us) is over.

So it's a swift walk through the paddock to watch the Auto GP drivers getting ready for their first race.

This one is clearly a Classic Rawk fan so we obviously want him to do well.

Distance walked so far: 1:75 miles-ish.

Hello! 

Always good to see somebody happy in their work.

1:45-ish and the Formula Renault 2.0 drivers are preparing for their race.

Louis Delatraz confirms that his helmet is a snug fit.

2:30-ish and the F Renault race is about to start.

Some fans appear to have more enthusiasm than others.

3:00pm-ish and we're back in the Paddock again.

This French Jaguar-connected media team is having a laugh.

That ice cream cone is not, repeat not, a microphone.

3:30-ish and we've walked back over to the National Pits Straight Stand to witness the rolling start of the Lambo Tropheo race.

Distance walked so far: 2.25 miles-ish.

3:50-ish. Back in The Paddock again and another visit to the cafe is done and dusted. Just tea this time and a sneaky snack of pastries bought from Sainsbury's yesterday.

One last wander around the paddock before making our way back to the car park.

This is French World Cup winning goalie and GT driver Fabien Barthez.

4:15-ish.

Fabien Barthez (or his team mate) behind the wheel at Maggotts.

4:30-ish.

MRS GT Racing Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3 not exceeding the track limits at Aintree.

Distance walked so far: 2:75 miles-ish.

4:50-ish: Vicky gets her knee down on an old section of the track.

5:05-ish.

We're now at the approach to Brooklands and this is Team Parker Racing Audi R8 LMS ultra.

Distance walked so far: 3.25 miles-ish.

5:10-ish:

Bentley Team HTP Bentley Continental GT3 at Luffield.

5:20-ish:

Come on David, we've taken quite enough photos for one day, it's time to go.

So it's back to the car for cheese and pickle rolls for David and Cheese and Oatcakes for Vicky, all washed down with Vicky's water supply that she always keeps in the car in case of emergencies.

Total distance walked: 3.75-ish (lets say 4 miles and have done with it).

Much later back at HQ and Emlyn proves that you don't have to spend all day walking around Silverstone to feel knackered and ready for bed.

Thank goodness tomorrow is A Day Of Rest.